For generations, young footballers in Solomon Islands have grown up dreaming of one day becoming a professional footballer and playing in a top professional league.
In a nation where everyone is so crazy about football, it is more than just a sport. That dream has often felt far from reach.
For many young player this wish has always been at the back of their head while dribbling the ball.
However, the pathway is clearer than ever for 19-year-old Martin Koto, as his dream will soon turn into a reality.
Its something he had been longing for and to show other young Solomon Islanders such a dream is possible through dedication, discipline and commitment.
Koto has been named in Solomon Kings FC, the country’s first-ever professional football club, set to compete in the inaugural OFC Pro League season, which kicks off next month in Auckland, New Zealand.
For the teenage midfielder, the call-up represents not just personal success, but a dream come true.
“It is really a dream come true for me, and I still can’t process it in my head,” Koto said in an interview with Star Sports.
“I am so grateful, happy and proud to be part of our first professional football club and to represent my family and the country.”
Koto is among 19 local players preparing to make their professional debuts a milestone moment for a football-mad nation that over the years have produced some of the finest in the region.
The Solomon Kings squad departed the country via Brisbane on Sunday and will spend two weeks in Australia, undertaking a high-intensity training camp at Carmichael Park, home of Wynnum Wolves FC, as they prepare for their historic campaign.
For Koto, the jump into a professional environment has been both challenging and eye-opening.
“One thing that is very new to me is adapting to the style of training at a professional level,” he said.
“The intensity and concentration required in every session is much higher, and you have to give everything you have.”
Raised on futsal courts, the Kwara’ae youngster from Malaita Province has followed a unique pathway to the professional game.
He made his S-League debut at just 16 years old with FC Isabel United in 2022, before returning to the indoor game a year later with Dawn FC in the SIFF Super Futsal League.
His breakthrough came in 2024, when strong performances for Sosa FC earned him a call-up to the senior national team.
In 2025, he joined S-League newcomers Green Shield FC, quickly establishing himself as a regular starter and cementing his place in the national setup.
Now under the guidance of Australian-English head coach Ben Cahn, the former Brisbane Roar FC coach, Koto said the focus is firmly on learning and growth.
“I know it will be tough and a new experience, but I am more than willing to learn, improve my football and make the most of this opportunity,” he said.
With support from senior teammates, Koto added that his confidence continues to grow with each training session as he adapts to life in a professional squad.
The teenager also hopes his journey will inspire the next generation of footballers back home.
“My advice to other young football talents in the country is to keep working hard and stay disciplined,” he said.
“We now have a clear pathway to professional football, so never give up and always give your best in every training session and match.”
Following their Brisbane camp, Solomon Kings FC will travel directly to Auckland, where they will make history when they kick off their OFC Pro League campaign on January 17 against PNG Hekari United FC at the iconic Eden Park.
For Koto, the dream that once started in the evening games is now just weeks away from reality.
By TIMOTHY INIFIRI JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
